Army asks industry for alternative energy sources to help power mobile command posts on the battlefield
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – U.S. Army researchers are surveying industry for ways to develop alternative power sources using sustainable and clean fuels for battlefield command posts.
Officials of the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center RTI Directorate at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., issued a request for information (W56KGU-Power RFI-001) on Monday for the Alternative Energy Technologies for Mobile Command Posts project.
The Army is seeking advanced fuel cell auxiliary power units (APUs) to reduce signature and greenhouse gas emissions for unmanned ground vehicles, modular command equipment, and power generation.
Army researchers are interested in novel hydrogen generation methods; improving the lifetimes of solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) for complex fuels; containment-tolerant catalysts; sulfur removal systems; and power sources that are able to use butane, dimethyl ether (DME), or ethanol.
Of particular interest is alternatives to polyfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes for extreme temperatures because of its risk of contaminating water supplies.
This request for information seeks to identify alternative energy technologies for mobile command posts; expeditionary power to include complex urban and rural terrain; potential capabilities for combat vehicles; and identify qualified technology providers.
The Army needs to develop command-post fuel cell auxiliary power solutions that are compact, mobile, and have low thermal and audible signatures. Of interest are efficient fuel production, transportation, fuel generation, contaminant tolerance, and systems integration.
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The Army also needs alternative energy solutions for ground vehicles that operate stationary or on-the-move in diverse environments. Researchers would like to see a discussion of the current development status and technology readiness level (TRL) of proposed technologies, and any test or demonstration results.
Companies interested should email responses no later than 27 Oct. 2023 to Army DEVCOM at [email protected].
Email technical questions or concerns to [email protected] by 19 Oct. 2023. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/55310bf9745545e79ac28a5103a1ddbb/view.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
